- Had a similar situation last fall—customer got real nervous after seeing “subject to material cost changes” in the estimate.
- Ended up having a long talk explaining why prices can jump (especially with how shingles went up last year). Didn’t lose the job, but it was tense.
- Honestly, I get both sides. We’re not trying to gouge anyone, but nobody wants to eat 20% extra because of stuff out of our control.
- I usually give 30 days on quotes now, unless it’s a big commercial job or something with specialty materials. If the customer’s dragging their feet, I’ll remind them that prices are only locked in for that window.
- Had to eat some cost once when lumber spiked mid-project... not fun, but sometimes it’s just easier than fighting over a few hundred bucks and risking bad reviews.
- One thing that helps: break it down in plain language. People get less freaked if you say “If the supplier jacks up prices before we order, I’ll let you know right away,” versus legal-sounding clauses.
- Not sure there’s a perfect answer—sometimes you just gotta read the room and pick your battles.
- Around here (midwest), most folks expect some wiggle room, especially after all the supply chain craziness lately. But yeah, I try not to surprise anyone or get too rigid about it... makes for better relationships long-term.
I get the idea of keeping things flexible, but honestly, I think 30 days is a bit too generous in this market. Material costs have been so unpredictable that even a week can make a difference. I’ve seen quotes go stale in less than two weeks—especially when storms hit and everyone’s scrambling for the same supplies. If you’re upfront about a shorter window (like 10-14 days), it might feel stricter, but at least you’re not setting yourself up to eat those surprise hikes. I’d rather have an awkward conversation up front than get stuck covering a big jump later. Just my two cents...
If you’re upfront about a shorter window (like 10-14 days), it might feel stricter, but at least you’re not setting yourself up to eat those surprise hikes.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had the opposite problem a couple times. Last spring, I gave a client a quote for a small roof repair—nothing fancy, just patching up some flashing and replacing a few shingles. I told them the price was good for two weeks, thinking I was covering myself. Well, they needed a little more time to get their insurance sorted, and by the time they were ready, my quote had technically expired. They almost walked away because they felt like I was nickel-and-diming them over a few days.
It made me wonder if being too strict on the window can backfire, especially with folks who aren’t used to how fast prices can change. Sometimes a little flexibility goes a long way for trust, even if it means eating a small increase now and then. Not saying 30 days is always right, but I guess it depends on the job size and the client. Anyone else run into that kind of situation?
Sometimes a little flexibility goes a long way for trust, even if it means eating a small increase now and then.
I get why you’d want to be flexible, but as someone who’s had to budget every home repair down to the last dollar, I actually appreciate when contractors stick to their word—even if it’s a strict window. The worst is when you think you’ve got the price locked in, only to have it bumped up because you took a few extra days. I know prices move fast, but from the homeowner side, it can feel like you’re being squeezed.
That said, I do think there’s room for compromise. If someone’s dealing with insurance or waiting on paperwork, maybe just spell out up front that you’ll honor the quote for X days, but after that, any increases are just the difference in material cost—not some random markup. That way both sides know what to expect. I’d rather have clear rules than feel like I’m negotiating every time something takes longer than planned.
For me, 14 days seems fair for most jobs unless it’s a big project or materials are going crazy. But yeah, communication is everything—just don’t leave folks guessing.
I’ve run into this a few times, especially during the pandemic when prices were all over the place. Had a window replacement quote go up by almost 20% after just a week because the supplier hiked their rates. I get that materials can change overnight, but it really threw my budget off. Ended up asking the contractor to show me the updated invoice from their supplier, and we split the difference. Not ideal, but at least it felt transparent.
Honestly, I agree—clear timelines help everyone. Two weeks seems reasonable for most jobs unless you’re dealing with custom stuff or unpredictable markets. Just spell it out in writing so there’s no confusion if things run long... saves a lot of headaches down the line.